Puzzle.



L. W. HARDY.

PUZZLE. I APPLICATION FILED DEG.14, 1907.

1,()] -7,'7'52 Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS W. HARDY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNQB TO 0. K. NQYELTY COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PUZZLE.

Patented Feb. 20,1912.

entertaining, but instructive as well, and

which gives opportunity for the propoundingof a number of puzzling tasks of varying degrees of ditficulty as to solution.

Figure 1 is a' plan view of the flat movable blocks comprised in my invention, 1n their preferred arrangement, before one of the blocks is removed, confined in a flat box of preferred construction, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same blocks, in the same box, at the end of the solution of the most difiicult task involved in the solution of my puzzle; and

Figs. 3 and L a're pl nviews of the same blocks (except the one'removed at the beginning of the game), in the same box, at the end of some of the simpler tasks involved in the solution of my puzzle.

Referring to the drawings, box 5 is a fiat box of a-depth preferably equal to the thickness of blocks 6, 7, 8, and 9 all of which are of substantially equal thickness, preferably about F. Box 5 as well as all of the blocks can be made of metal, wood, or any other suitable substance; but cardboard is ordinarily preferred. A suitable cover can be provided of the same material, the outside of which is preferably provided with a suit able label, while its inside. offers a suitable place for the publication of instructions for the use of the puzzle. The cover, not being essential, nor requiring illustration, is not shown in the drawings.

The rims 10 of the short sides of box5 are preferably made of a width suflicientfor the printing thereon of letters, like A, B, C and D, or other suitable designations for the four corners of the box, for use in giv ing instructions with reference to the shiftmg of the blocks to the several corners.

The wi of these rims is likewise of use in stifi and strengthening box 5.

The inside 0 box 5 is made substantially.

parallelo ram shaped and adapted to make a reasonably close fit for all of blocks 6, 7 8 and 9, when assembled as shown in Fig. 1, but not close enough to bind.

In lieu of a box a flat pasteboard or the like, with the area for the movement of the blocks marked oif by mere lines, might be used; though suchfiat board would be less convenient.

Blocks 6, 7, 8 and 9 together are made to substantially fill the inside area of box 5, in the following proportions. for each :One 'block (6) occupies one-fifth of said area,

measuring preferably one-half ofthe inside- -width of box 5 one way, and one-fifth of its inside length the other way; two blocks (8) likewise occupy each one-tenth of said area, but measure preferably each one-quarter of the inside width of box 5 one way, and twofifths of its inside length the other way; four blocks (9)., finally, occupy each onetwentieth part of said area, measuring preferably each one-fourth of the inside width of box 5 one way, and one-fifth of its inside length the other way.

In the preferred construction, shown in the drawing, wherein the inside of box 5 is one and one-quarter times'as long as its width, and all corners are rectangular, the above described distribution of area among the several blocks results in blocks 6 and 9 being each square, and blocks 7 and 8 being of equal size to each other. This relation however is not-essential, as the puzzle can be worked about as well, and in the same manner, as in the preferred construction, if length and width of the inside of box 5 are of different proportions tha'n'l}, to 1. Even the corner angles of the box and blocks need not necessarily be rectangular, though it is decldedly preferable to have them so. Blocks 9 might even be made round. These and similar deviations from the preferred.

subsequent shifting of the relative position of the remaining blocks by sliding them about, without lifting or turning. Probably the most difiicult task to be accomplished in this manner, is such shifting of the blocks from the position indicated in Fig. 1 to the position indicated in Fig. 2, while easier tasks involve a like shifting from the position indicated in Fig. 1 to those indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and in tend to secure by Letters Patent, is 2- 1. In a movable block puzzle the combination of a suitably confined, substantiallyparallelogram-shaped field for movement of the blocks, with ten movable blocks of dimensions substantially as follows: one block measuring one-half of the width of said field one Way, and two fifths of its length the other way; three blocks measuring each one-half of the width of said field one way, and one-fifth of its length the other way; two blocks measuring each onefourth of the width of said field one Way, and twofifths of its length theother way; and four blocks measuring each one-fourth of the width of said field one way, and one-fifth of its length the other Way. 1

2. In a movable block puzzle the combination of a suitably confined, substantially parallelogram-shaped field for movement of the blocks, with ten parallelogram-shaped movable blocks of angles corresponding to those of the confined field aforesaid, and of dimensions substantially as follows: one block measuring one-half of the width of said field one way, and two'fifths of its length the other way; three blocks measuring each one-half of the width of said field one ,way, and one-fifth of its length the other Way; two blocks measuring each one-fourth of the width of said field one way, and twofifths of its length the other way; and four blocks measuring each one-fourth of the width of said field one wa and one-fifth of its length the other way.

3. In a movable block puzzle the combination of a suitably confined parallelogram sha d field for movement of the blocks, witii one parallelogram-shaped block covering-one-fift-h of said field; five parallelogram-sha ed blocks covering each one-tenth of said fie d; and four parallelogram-shaped blocks covering each one-twentieth of said field- 1 4. In a movable block puzzle the combination of a parallelogram-shaped box of suit-.

able depth with a group of ten blocks which practically fill nine-tenths of the confines 60 of said box, said group consisting of three difierentunits in size, each a divisional or multiple part of the other, all arranged as and for the purposes substantially as specified.

5. In a movable block puzzle the combination of a parallelogram-shaped box of suitable depth with a group of ten blocks which practically fill nine-tenths of the confines of said box, said group being composed of a major block and two groups of lesser size blocks, said lesser blocks being divisional units of said major block, all arranged as' anal for the purposes substantially as specifie 6. In a movable block puzzle the combination of a parallelogramshaped box .With a group of ten blocks made to practically fill nine-tenths of the confines of said box, said group being composed of one major block, five half major blocks, and four quarter major blocks, arranged as and for the purpose substantially as s ecified.

7. In a movable bloc puzzle, the combination of a suitably confined parallelogram shaped field for the movement of the blocks, with a system of three groups of blocks; the blocks of each group being equal in shape and size to each other, but difierin from those of the other groups in constituting divisional or multiple units thereof, and the field being large enough to accommodate all of said blocks, and to furnish, in addition, space for movement of the blocks within the field by sliding shift.

8. In a movable block puzzle, the comblnation of a system of more than two groups of blocks, the blocks of each group being equal to each other in shape and size, but constituting divisional or multiple units of the blocks of the other groups,

with a suitably confined parallelogramshaped field, for the movement of the blocks,

of such size as to accommodate all of said blocks, and to furnish just enough additional space to make possible the transfer, by sliding shift exclusively, within said field,

of the largest unit of said blocks to all portions of said field.

'9. In a movable block puzzle, the, combination of a suitably confined parallelogram shaped field for the movement of the blocks, wlth a system of three groups of blocks; the blocks of the first group being of double the size of the blocks of the second group; the blocks of the third group being of half the size of the blocks of the second group; the blocks of the second group being in part disposed vertically, and in part horizontally, in the field; and the field being large enough to accommodate all of said blocks, and to furnish, in addition, space for movement of the blocks by sliding shift within the field.

10. In a movable block bination of a gram sha d field for the movement of the blocks, wlth a. system of threegroups of w blocks; the first group consisting of a single block; the second group consisting of blocks half as large as the block of the first group; 130

puzzle, the comsuitably confined parallelothe third group consisting of blocks one for movement of the blocks by sliding shift quarter as large as the block of the first within the field. group; the blocks of the second group being in part disposed vertically, and in part hori- LEWIS-W. HARD-Y.

'5 zontally, in the field; and the field being In presence of- 1 large enough to accommodate all of sand ED ARD I. BUCK IN,

blooks, and to furnish, in addition, space CHAS. M. PORTER. 

